CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SUCCESSFUL BELIEVER

There are many yardsticks by which men measure success.

Among them are: wealth, power, position, prestige, etc.

These are some of the indicators of worldly success.

However, measuring our spiritual success and our success as a Christian is a little more difficult.

Often, there is little tangible, visible evidence, which you can put your hands on to prove you are living a successful Christian life.

Generally, success for the believer is more internal than external.

What I mean by that is this, the small amount of external evidence we produce is the result of much internal activity in our hearts and lives.

That is why it is difficult for God’s children, who live in a materialistic world, to gauge their success in their walk with God.

Thankfully Psalm 1 exists.

In this psalms, we find insight into what makes a believer successful.

So, this morning and in memory of Elder Otis Maclin Jr. and all of the other great men and women, who have crossed over … and those of us who are still striving to be all that we can be, I want to use Psalms 1 as the plumbline of God’s Word to see just how we measure up to God’s standard for successful Christian living.

I. v. THE PATH OF THE SUCCESSFUL BELIEVER

II. v. THE Pleasure OF THE SUCCESSFUL BELIEVER

III. v. THE PROSPERITY OF THE SUCCESSFUL BELIEVER

I. v. 1 THE PATH OF THE SUCCESSFUL BELIEVER

A. The Successful believer is separated in his walk of life.

1. He doesn’t Believe like the wicked – (Ill. He doesn’t listen to their counsel and invitations to evil) His hearing is tuned to a higher calling!

2. He doesn’t Behave like the wicked because he recognized that (The old man has been put forever away!) 2 Cor. 5:17 –

3. He doesn’t Belong with the wicked because he (He feels out of place, uneasy when surrounded by the devil’s crowd. 2 Cor. 6:17

Now what I want you to notice is

1. The downward progress or the what I call the slow walking effect

a. Walk with,

b. Standing with,

c. And before you know it you are Sitting with or among them.

Now minded you this is the path that Lot took which eventually led to his total downfall Gen. 19.

But the successful believer realizes that there is a vast difference between himself and the world he was saved out of, and he lives accordingly!

v.1 THE PATH OF THE SUCCESSFUL BELIEVER

II. v. 2 THE PLEASURE OF THE SUCCESSFUL BELIEVER

The successful believer is genuinely and completely in love with the Word of God.

· The Word Has Captured His Full Affection – Delight = Pleasure!

The songs we sing, the lessons we teach, the sermons we preach and the prayers we pray are capture from the Word of God.

The Word of God isn’t just a Book of fables, myths and legends. But to any child of God it is the very Word of Truth that makes us free.

· it is God-breathed

· it is infallible,

· it is inerrant

· and most of all it is absolutely perfect.

He loves it and he lives it, because in its pages he finds all he needs to grow and prosper for Jesus.

Another point I want to share is The value of the Word:

It is Food according to – Job 23:12; Matt. 4:4

1. Its Milk for the baby – 1 Pet. 2:2 (Ill. It gives the baby Christian everything he needs to grow up strong and healthy!)

2. Its Meat for the growing – Heb. 5:12-14 (Ill. It provides all we need to make us strong in the Lord!)

3. Its Bread for everyone – John 6:51 (Ill. Bread is the staple food of the world! No matter where you go, people need the Bread of life!)

4. Its Honey for those in need – Psa. 19:10 (Ill. nothing has the power to encourage as does a Word from God!)

2. It is Light – Psa. 119:105

3. It is Truth – John 17:17

4. It is a Mirror – James 1:23-25

5. It is Water – Eph. 5:25-27

a. It Cleanses – Eph. 5:26

b. It Quenches – John 4:13-14

c. It Refreshes – Psa. 119:150

6. It is a Seed – 1 Pet. 1:23

7. It is a Sword – Heb. 4:12; Eph. 6:17

8. It is a Hammer – Jer. 23:29

a. It can Build Up – Pro. 16:24

b. It can Tear Down – Rev. 2:16; 19:15, 21

9. It is a Fire – Jer. 20:9; Luke 24:32

The successful believer is in love with the Bible.

He knows that in its pages, he can find all that his soul requires.

It embodies the complete revelation of God to men. It meets the need of the Christian life.)

Not only does the successful believer love the Book, but he lives out the Book daily.

The Bible is internalized and it becomes the singular standard for faith and practice.

Every thought, every move, every decision is made against the backdrop of God’s Word, and what it has to say about an issue.

However, before life can ever be lived in this fashion, the Bible must be consumed and made a vital part of who you are – 2 Tim. 2:15.

The Psalmist declares that the successful believer spends his days and his nights in the pursuit of the Book.

v.1 THE PATH OF THE SUCCESSFUL BELIEVER

v. 2 THE PLEASURE OF THE SUCCESSFUL BELIEVER

III. v. 3 THE PROSPERITY OF THE SUCCESSFUL BELIEVER

The promises of this verse are conditional.

When we live separated lives and feed our souls on God’s Word, then we can expect these things to happen for us.

A. His Position is … By the River! Always close to the life giving resources. The tree planted by the river is never dry and wilted, but is green, lush and lovely. (Ill. The believer who lives close to God will never be dry and wilted either. He will be vibrant, lively and productive.)

B. His Prominence … is A tree. The life of the successful believer stands heads above all those around him. (Men and women … boys and girls will know when you have been with Jesus – Acts. 4:13)

C. His Permanence – Planted – Unlike some plants, which live for a season and die out, this tree, has sunk its root deep and has a hidden source of life.

· Planted – literally "transplanted." A tree cannot transplant itself, neither can a man transplant himself into the Kingdom of God. It is wholly a work of God’s grace. And, He always plants us in good soil, near the water supply. However, after we are planted, it is our responsibility to draw from the resources, which God has provided.)

D. His Productivity – "Brings forth fruit" – The successful believer is a blessing to all those around him, because his fruit is plentiful. (Like an apple tree in a cow field you may never know just who is feeding off your life!

E. His Predictability – "In his season" This tree isn’t a freak. Just as there are seasons of fruit bearing, so there are times of rest and growth.

As believers, we aren’t to worry over the fruit. That is the Father’s business!

When everything else is as it should be, then the fruit will come in its season – John 15:1-5.

F. His Perpetuity – "leaf shall not fade" – The successful believer is like an evergreen. He is always surrounded by the green of life.

They are unaffected by winter or weather, but they are always the same.)

· Our lives should be lives of consistency!

· We are called on to be a stable, faithful and dependable people – 1 Cor. 15:58)

· The successful believer is consistent.

· The curve balls of life are unable to knock him off course.

· Thank the Lord for consistent people

G. His Prosperity – "Whatsoever he doeth, it shall prosper" –

· In other words, God will bless the successful believer.

o His personal life,

o his family life,

o his business life,

o his church life,

o his spiritual life will all be blessed of the Lord.

That isn’t to say that there won’t be stormy seas, but the successful believer will be able to sail them with Jesus until they are calm once again!

"Blessed." This means "Oh how very, very happy." I hope you have seen yourself among the happy ones and are encouraged about you walk with Jesus tonight. You see it is possible to be successful for Christ and know it without being self-righteous!